Kariobangi south is full of young boys with big dreams. An ordinary day in
Kariobangi south, sees U12 boys team by the name handshake take to the pitch to
sharpen their skills. Football is seen as a way out of poverty.
It is here that we meet Evans an 11 year old striker who wishes to play like Lionel
Messi. His dream is to get his family out of poverty.
‘’ In the ghetto there are a lot of problems says one of the kids’’
'' i want to excell in football so that I can help the less fortunate''
'' I want to play football so that I can fly abroad''
'' I play foootball because it is my talent''
Low literacy levels, drug abuse and crime are the order of the day in the gheto.
However, football is giving the young boys an oportunity to do bettter and choose
beter.
Run by former footballer’s, team handshake carries the dream of so many people.
The founders of the team aim at building an all-round player who can be a pillar in
the society. The management knows all too well that casting their net on both
education and football is key as you may never know which one will open doors.
Education is said to be the key. however for many in Kariobangi attaining higher
level education is a luxury. Nevil Otieno is a talented tootballer who looks up to
Kevin de Bruine. Since joining team handshake he says his dscipline has improved.
louis Onyango from exodus acadamy also says that his discipline levels has gone up
since joing the team. He wants toplay like Wan Bisaka and hopes to one day play
abroad.
The environment plays a big role in a childs behaviour. Most ghetos lack proper role
models and kids end up emulating unwanted characters. It is for this reason that
high discipline is emphasised with the coaches ensuring they are modeling the rite
behaviour for the young ones.
Among players suporting the team is harambee stars and international striker
Ovella Ochieng. The player has offered boots and jersies to the kids.
Lawrence Omondi is a former player at Kariobangi sharks who has taken up the role
of the headcoach. And as he tells florsport, '' apart from teaching the kids basic

foootball, education is paramount. We ensure that they are doing their homework as
well&,
Nelson Almasa is a beneficialy of the good work the club is doing. The 12 year old
boy relocated to Nairobi after landing scolarship with the team. He believes that his
talent which has earned him qualty education will also in the near future bring him
fotunes.
If you follow Kenyan politics you probably know the genesis of the name handshake.
In the Kariobangi context, handshake comprses of players from the region of Darful
and others from Kidhembe area who came together to form team handshake.
According to Kevin Ouma the teams chairman, most of the former footballer from
the area never made it past local top flight league. Having suffered the same fate, his
goal and that of the senior players is to ensure that the generations that come after
them will have a better experience and beter chances of making it past the local
scene.
''most of us were not lucky to play internationally. Thats why we came together as
senior players from Kariobangi and decided to nurture the future stars from here''
Nurturing talent is vital. Doing so at a young age is the key to success.